NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Geography of Greenland

Greenland, the largest island in the world, is located between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada and northwest of Iceland. Greenland has no land boundaries and 44,087 km of coastline. A sparse population is confined to small settlements along the coast. Greenland possesses the world's second largest ice sheet. Image File history File links Greenland_map. ... An ice sheet is a mass of glacier ice that covers surrounding terrain and is greater than 50,000 kmÂ² (19,305 mileÂ²). The only current ice sheets are Antarctic and Greenland; during the last ice age at Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) the Laurentide ice sheet covered much of Canada...

The vegetation is generally sparse, with the only patch of forested land being found in Nanortalik Municipality in the extreme south near Cape Farewell. Location of the Nanortalik municipality in Greenland. ... Cape Farewell (the centre of the image) and the rugged southern coast of Egger Island, The coast (dark) is generally surrounded by sea ice, making navigation treacherous. ...

The title="climate">climate is arctic to subarctic with cool summers and cold winters. The terrain is mostly a flat but gradually sloping icecap that covers all land except for a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast. The lowest point is at sea level, and the highest is Gunnbjørn (3,700 m). The northernmost point of Greenland proper is Cape Morris Jesup, discovered by Admiral Robert Peary in 1909. Natural resources include zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium, fish, seals, and whales. Regions with a polar climate are characterized by a lack of warm summers (specifically, no month having an average temperature of 10 Â°C or higher). ... Regions having a subarctic climate (also called boreal climate) are characterized by very cold winters, and brief, warm summers. ... For other uses, see Summer (disambiguation). ... Winter is one of the four seasons of temperate zones. ... For considerations of sea level change, in particular rise associated with possible global warming, see sea level rise. ... Mount GunnbjÃ¸rn (in Danish: GunnbjÃ¸rn Fjeld) is Greenlands highest mountain, located in the Watkins Range on the east coast. ... Cape Morris Jesup is the northernmost point of mainland Greenland and is 708 km from the geographic North Pole. ... Robert Edwin Peary (1856-1920) Robert Edwin Peary (May 6, 1856 â€“ February 20, 1920) was an American explorer who claimed to have been the first person, on April 6, 1909, to reach the geographic North Pole Peary was born in the Pittsburgh area town of Cresson, Pennsylvania. ... Year 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... General Name, Symbol, Number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Atomic mass 65. ... For PB or pb as an abbreviation, see PB. General Name, Symbol, Number lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series poor metals Group, Period, Block 14, 6, p Appearance bluish white Atomic mass 207. ... General Name, Symbol, Number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 8, 4, d Appearance lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge Atomic mass 55. ... Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground by underground mining or open-pit mining (surface mining). ... General Name, Symbol, Number molybdenum, Mo, 42 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 6, 5, d Appearance gray metallic Atomic mass 95. ... General Name, Symbol, Number gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 6, d Appearance metallic yellow Atomic mass 196. ... General Name, Symbol, Number platinum, Pt, 78 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 10, 6, d Appearance grayish white Atomic mass 195. ... General Name, Symbol, Number uranium, U, 92 Chemical series actinides Group, Period, Block n/a, 7, f Appearance silvery gray metallic; corrodes to a spalling black oxide coat in air Atomic mass 238. ... A giant grouper at the Georgia Aquarium Fish are aquatic vertebrates that are typically cold-blooded; covered with scales, and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins. ... subfamilies Otariidae Phocidae Odobenidae Pinnipeds are large marine mammals belonging to the Pinnipedia, a family (sometimes a suborder or superfamily, depending on the classification scheme) of the order Carnivora. ... A Fin whale The term whale is ambiguous: it can refer to all cetaceans, to just the larger ones, or only to members of particular families within the order Cetacea. ...

Area

total: 2,175,600 km²
land: 2,175,600 km² (341,700 km² ice-free, 1,833,900 km² ice-covered) (est.) To help compare orders of magnitude of different surface areas here is a list of areas between 1 million kmÂ² and 10 million kmÂ². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ...

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nautical miles
territorial sea: 3 nautical miles A nautical mile or sea mile is a unit of length. ... A nautical mile or sea mile is a unit of length. ...

Land use

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 99% (1993 est.)

Total population 56,000 inhabitants of which ca. 15,000 lives in the capital Nuuk.

Irrigated land

Natural hazards

Continuous ice sheet covers 84% of the country; the rest is permafrost. An ice sheet is a mass of glacier ice that covers surrounding terrain and is greater than 50,000 kmÂ² (19,305 mileÂ²). The only current ice sheets are Antarctic and Greenland; during the last ice age at Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) the Laurentide ice sheet covered much of Canada... In geology, permafrost or permafrost soil is a thermal condition where ground material stays at or below 0Â°C for two or more years. ...

Environment - current issues

Protection of the arctic environment; climatic change; pollution of the food chain; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling; excessive hunting ([1]) on endangered species (walrus, polar bears, narwhal, beluga whale and several sea birds) - Greenland participates actively in Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC). For other uses, see Inuit (disambiguation). ... The crew of the oceanographic research vessel Princesse Alice, of Albert Grimaldi (later Prince Albert I of Monaco) pose while flensing a catch. ... Inuit Circumpolar Conference or ICC, is an multinational nongovernmental organization representing 150,000 Inuit, living in Canada (Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon Territory), the United States (Alaska), Greenland, and on the Russian peninsula of Chukotka. ...

Climate change

The Greenland ice sheet is three [km] thick and broad enough to blanket an area the size of Mexico. The ice is so massive that its weight presses the bedrock of Greenland below sea level, so all-concealing that not until recently did scientists discover that Greenland actually might be three islands.^[1] Outline Map of Greenland with ice sheet depths. ... Outline Map of Greenland with ice sheet depths. ...

It is thought that before the Ice Age Greenland had mountainous edges, and a lowland (and probably very dry) center which drained to the sea by one big river flowing out westwards past where Disko is now. Variations in CO2, temperature and dust from the Vostok ice core over the last 400 000 years For the animated movie, see Ice Age (movie). ... Categories: Geography stubs | Greenland ...

There is concern about sea level rise caused by ice loss (melt and glaciers falling into the sea) on Greenland. Between 1997 and 2003 ice loss was 80±12 km³/yr, compared to about 60 km³/yr for 1993/4-1998/9. Half of the increase was from higher summer melting, with the rest caused by velocities of some glaciers exceeding those needed to balance upstream snow accumulation (Krabill et al., L24402, GRL 2004). A complete loss of ice on Greenland would cause a sea level rise of as much as 6.40 meters. Sea level measurements from 23 long tide gauge records in geologically stable environments show a rise of around 8 inches per century (2 mm/year). ... Sea level measurements from 23 long tide gauge records in geologically stable environments show a rise of around 8 inches per century (2 mm/year). ...

Researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Kansas reported in February 2006 that the glaciers are melting twice as fast as they were five years ago. By 2005, Greenland was beginning to lose more ice volume than anyone expected — an annual loss of up to 52 cubic miles per year (216 km³/yr), according to more recent satellite gravity measurements released by JPL. For other uses, see NASA (disambiguation). ... The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), in La CaÃ±ada Flintridge, near Los Angeles, California, USA, builds and operates unmanned spacecraft for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). ... The University of Kansas (often referred to as KU) is an institution of higher learning located in Lawrence, Kansas. ...

Between 1991 and 2006, monitoring of the weather at one location (Swiss Camp) found that the average winter temperature had risen almost 10 degrees fahrenheit.

Since 2002, Greenland's three largest outlet glaciers have started moving faster, satellite data show. On the eastern edge of Greenland, the Kangerlussuaq Glacier, like the Jakobshavn Isbræ, has surged, doubling its pace. To the west, the Helheim Glacier now appears to be moving about half a football field every day. The accelerating ice flow has been accompanied by a dramatic increase in seismic activity. In March 2006, researchers at Harvard University and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University reported that the glaciers now generate swarms of earthquakes up to magnitude 5.0. ^[1] Satellite image of Jakobshavn IsbrÃ¦. The coloured lines show the retreat of the calving front of the Jakobshavn IsbrÃ¦ since 1850. ... Harvard University (incorporated as The President and Fellows of Harvard College) , is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ... Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory is a world-class research institution specializing in earth sciences and part of Columbia University. ... Columbia University is a private research university whose main campus lies in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of the Borough of Manhattan in New York City. ...

The retreat of Greenland's ice is revealing islands that were thought to be part of the mainland. In September 2005 Dennis Schmitt discovered an island 400 miles north of the Arctic Circle in eastern Greenland which he named Uunartoq Qeqertoq, Inuit for "warming island".^[2] Veteran explorer from UC Berkeley who may have discovered the furtherest north piece of real estate on Earth off the north coast of Greenland. ... For other uses, see Inuit (disambiguation). ...

Extreme points

This is a list of the extreme points of Greenland, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location. Compass rose with north highlighted and at top Look up North in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A compass rose with South highlighted South is most commonly a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography. ... The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST, internally called HT-7U) is a project being undertaken to construct an experimental superconducting tokamak magnetic fusion energy reactor in Hefei, the capital city of Anhui Province, in eastern China. ... A compass rose with west highlighted This article refers to the cardinal direction; for other uses see West (disambiguation). ...

Greenland (island) Kaffeklubben Island or Coffee Club Island is a small island lying off the north eastern tip of Greenland, and is considered to be the most northerly point of land on earth. ... This is a list of lists of extreme points of the world, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other locations on the landmasses, continents or countries. ... Cape Farewell (the centre of the image) and the rugged southern coast of Egger Island, The coast (dark) is generally surrounded by sea ice, making navigation treacherous. ... Egger Island is Greenlands southernmost island. ... Cape Alexander is the westernmost point in Greenland. ... Nordostrundingen or NordÃ¸strundingen, is the easternmost point in North America, on the island of Greenland. ...

Cape Morris Jesup is the northernmost point of mainland Greenland and is 708 km from the geographic North Pole. ... Nanortalik is a municipality at the southern tip of Greenland, close to Cape Farewell. ... Cape Alexander is the westernmost point in Greenland. ... Nordostrundingen or NordÃ¸strundingen, is the easternmost point in North America, on the island of Greenland. ...

References

External link

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Geography of North America

Antigua and Barbuda · Bahamas · Barbados · Belize · Canada · Costa Rica · Cuba · Dominica · Dominican Republic · El Salvador · Grenada · Guatemala · Haiti · Honduras · Jamaica · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Saint Kitts and Nevis · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Trinidad and Tobago · United States Global view centered on North America North America is the third largest continent (1990 est. ... Political map of Costa Rica. ... a beach in the Barahona province This article details the geography of the Dominican Republic. ... Map of El Salvador Shaded relief map of El Salvador Satellite image of El Salvador in April 2002 Economic activity of El Salvador, 1980 Vegetation and land use, 1980 The geography of El Salvador is unique among the nations of Central America. ... Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago Geographic coordinates: 17 20 N, 62 45 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 261 km² (Saint Kitts 168 km²; Nevis 93 km²) land: 261 km² water... Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago. ... Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago Geographic coordinates: 13Â°15â€² N 61Â°12â€² W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 389 kmÂ² (Saint Vincent 344 kmÂ²) land: 389 kmÂ² water: 0 kmÂ² Area - comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC Land... Forty-nine states in the United States (all except Hawaii) lie on the North American continent; 48 of these (all except Alaska and Hawaii) are contiguous and form the continental United States. ...

Dependencies and other territories
Anguilla · Aruba · Bermuda · British Virgin Islands · Cayman Islands · Greenland · Guadeloupe · Martinique · Montserrat · Navassa Island · Netherlands Antilles · Puerto Rico · Saint-Pierre and Miquelon · Turks and Caicos Islands · U.S. Virgin Islands A dependent territory, dependent area or dependency is a territory that does not possess full political independence or sovereignty as a State. ... Types of political territories include: A legally administered territory, which is a non-sovereign geographic area that has come under the authority of another government. ... Information from The World Factbook See also: British Virgin Islands Categories: British Virgin Islands | Geography by country ... Location: Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras Geographic coordinates: 19 30 N, 80 30 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 259 km² land: 259 km² water: 0 km² Area - comparative: 1. ... Navassa Island map from The World Factbook Navassa Island (French: La Navase, Haitian KreyÃ²l: Lanavaz) is a small, uninhabited island in the Caribbean Sea. ... The Netherlands Antilles are in the Caribbean Sea. ... Location: Image of Puerto Rico taken by NASA. Caribbean, archipelago between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 66 30 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: Total: 9,104 km² Land: 8,959 km² Water: 145... Location: Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada) Geographic coordinates: 46°50′ N 56°20′ W Map references: North America Area: total: 242 km² land: 242 km² water: 0 km² note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon... The Turks and Caicos Islands lie in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of the Bahamas and north of Haiti. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require rewriting and/or reformatting. ...

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